Across the Test matches, One Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20 Internationals, India and New Zealand have established quite a competitive cricket rivalry. The road began in the year 1955, through iconic World Cup encounters along with historic Test wins and ICC tournament finals. Big Matches Schedule-Just under, here is the India vs New Zealand Timeline that highlights everything from major matches to important results and peaks through 2026.
India vs New Zealand Cricket Timeline: 1955–2026
Timeline of India national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team Test matches, World Cup and other key ICC tournament finals Both teams have had their shining moments in international cricket since the first Test series of 1955–56. The competition reached a new level when India beat them in the Champions Trophy in 2025 and its T20 World Cup final triumph over New Zealand the following year.
1955–1956: First Test Series Between India and New Zealand
The Test rivalry between India and New Zealand began in 1955–56 during New Zealand’s tour of India. India leads on the head to head record winning that five match series 2–0. That rivalry set the stage for one that spanned generations.
1967–1968: India Win Their First Test Series in New Zealand
In October 1967–68, India achieved its first victorious Test series against New Zealand winning 3-1 in a four-Test tour of the country. That was India’s maiden Test series win in New Zealand. The outcome demonstrated India’s developing strength as an abroad cricketing power and would prove to be a defining moment in the competition.
1975–1979: Early Cricket World Cup Battles
India and New Zealand faced each other during the first two Cricket World Cups in 1975 and 1979. New Zealand won both encounters, showing its ability to perform against India in the tournament’s early years. These matches helped establish the teams’ growing rivalry in limited-overs cricket.
1987: India Dominate New Zealand in the World Cup
At the 1987 Cricket World Cup, India won both matches played against New Zealand. This includes the most memorable thinking performances of this tournament for example, Chetan Sharma who took home the very first hat-trick in the Cricket World Cup event against New Zealand. The proceedings underscored how dominant India was in the world of one-day international cricket around the end of the 1980s.
2000: New Zealand Win the ICC Knock Out Trophy
India and New Zealand had met in the first two World Cups – 1975 and 1979. Since then, New Zealand had triumphed in both contests and demonstrated that it could score points against India. And these matches laid the groundwork for an emerging rivalry between both teams in limited-overs cricket.
2003: India Beat New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup
India vs New Zealand, South Africa: 2003 Cricket World Cup India bowled New Zealand out for 146 and chased down a paltry target with an over to spare, winning by seven wickets at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. That helped India cement their place in the tournament, with the side eventually reaching the final.
2007: New Zealand Win Their First T20 World Cup Meeting
History India vs New Zealand in 2007 Super Eight: First ICC Men’s T20 World Cup The Kiwis notched up a score of 190/6 before bowling out the Indians for 180/9 to seal victory by 10 runs. Daniel Vettori two number 11s with the bat and some inspired bowling in the second Test were among many important components in a winning series.
2016: New Zealand Beat India in the T20 World Cup
That was reconfirmed at the 2016-T20 World Cup in Nagpur when the two teams met again. New Zealand was 126/7 and India was bowled out for only 79, falling to a spin assault from the New Zealand bowling line. Mitchell Santner was one of the star performers in the match, returning 4/11 and leading New Zealand to a 47-win.
2019: New Zealand Eliminate India from the World Cup
One of the most heart-stopping matches in this history between two teams Occured at the 2019 Cricket World Cup semi-final. Rain delayed the second day of the match somewhat, but eventually New Zealand could only manage 239/8 in two days, before bowling out India for 221 to win the match by a mere return-18 runs. MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja tried to do a counter action but India lost the match and New Zealand progressed to final.
2021: New Zealand Win the World Test Championship Final
The first-ever ICC World Test Championship final took place in June 2021, with India and New Zealand squaring off against each other in Southampton. Winning the inaugural World Test Championships, New Zealand chased down a modest target of 139 to win by eight wickets. Kyle Jamieson (5/54) produced a brilliant bowling performance, and Kane Williamson was instrumental in steering the chase
2023: India Defeat New Zealand in the World Cup Semi-Final
INDIA vs NEW ZEALAND 2023 ODI World Cup semi-finals, Mumbai India 397/4: Virat Kohli scored his 50th One-Day International (ODI) ton and Shreyas Iyer also got a hundred. India bowled out New Zealand for 327 as Mohammed Shami took seven wickets, winning by 70 runs and booking a place in the final.
2024: New Zealand Make Test Cricket History in India
New Zealand in October 2024 became the first team to win a Test series in India. The hosts emerged victorious in Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai securing a 3–0 series sweep. This delivered a major triumph as India had been on a prolonged streak of home Test series dominance.
2025: India Win the Champions Trophy Final
India faced New Zealand in the final of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on March 9 in Dubai. New Zealand 251/7 (50 overs); India 254/6 (49 overs) to win by four wickets. Rohit Sharma received the Player-of-the-Match award for his 76 runs as India picked up the trophy.
2026: India Win the T20 World Cup Final
A thrilling contest ended on 8 March in Ahmedabad when India outplayed New Zealand to win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final. India scored 255/5, which is the highest T20 World Cup final score in history, and bowled out New Zealand for 159 to win the match by 96 runs. Jasprit Bumrah (4/15) was declared Player of the Match while Sanju Samson got the Player of the Tournament award. And India also became the first side to retain the men’s T20 World Cup crown.
India vs New Zealand Timeline Table
Also Read : India national cricket team vs south Africa national cricket team timeline
| Year | Tournament or Series | Result |
| 1955–56 | First Test series | India won 2–0 |
| 1967–68 | Test series in New Zealand | India won 3–1 |
| 1975 | Cricket World Cup | New Zealand won |
| 1979 | Cricket World Cup | New Zealand won |
| 1987 | Cricket World Cup meetings | India won both matches |
| 2000 | ICC Knock Out Trophy final | New Zealand won |
| 2003 | Cricket World Cup | India won by 7 wickets |
| 2007 | T20 World Cup | New Zealand won by 10 runs |
| 2016 | T20 World Cup | New Zealand won by 47 runs |
| 2019 | Cricket World Cup semi-final | New Zealand won by 18 runs |
| 2021 | World Test Championship final | New Zealand won by 8 wickets |
| 2023 | Cricket World Cup semi-final | India won by 70 runs |
| 2024 | Test series in India | New Zealand won 3–0 |
| 2025 | Champions Trophy final | India won by 4 wickets |
| 2026 | T20 World Cup final | India won by 96 runs |
India vs New Zealand Head-to-Head Rivalry
- Test Cricket: Both teams have experienced periods of dominance, with New Zealand recording a historic 3–0 Test series victory in India in 2024.
- ODI Cricket: Their rivalry includes memorable World Cup matches, including India’s 2023 semi-final victory and New Zealand’s 2019 semi-final win.
- T20 International Cricket: India and New Zealand have faced each other in major T20 tournaments, including the 2007 and 2016 T20 World Cups.
- ICC Tournament Finals: New Zealand defeated India in the 2000 ICC Knock Out Trophy final and the 2021 World Test Championship final.
- Champions Trophy 2025: India defeated New Zealand by four wickets to win the title.
- T20 World Cup 2026: India beat New Zealand by 96 runs in the final.
- Competitive Rivalry: Both teams have produced memorable performances, making their contests significant across all three international formats.
- Test record: The teams have played competitive series, with New Zealand’s 3–0 sweep in India in 2024 standing out.
. ODI record: India hold the overall advantage in ODI wins through January 2026. - T20I record: India lead the T20I head-to-head record, including their 2026 World Cup final victory.
Conclusion
The India national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline reflects decades of competitive international cricket. New Zealand has delivered memorable victories in World Cups and Test cricket, while India has responded with important knockout wins and major tournament titles. The 2025 Champions Trophy final and 2026 T20 World Cup final added two more significant chapters to this long-running rivalry.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When did India and New Zealand first play a Test series?
India and New Zealand first played a Test series in 1955–56, when New Zealand toured India. India won the series 2–0.
2. Who won the 2019 Cricket World Cup semi-final between India and New Zealand?
New Zealand won by 18 runs in a rain-affected semi-final at Manchester and advanced to the final.
3. Who won the 2021 World Test Championship final?
New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets to become the inaugural World Test Champions.
4. Who won the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final in 2025?
India won by four wickets on 9 March 2025 after successfully chasing New Zealand’s total of 251/7.
5. Who won the India vs New Zealand T20 World Cup final in 2026?
India won by 96 runs on 8 March 2026 after scoring 255/5 and dismissing New Zealand for 159.
Also Read : |Hardik Pandya Net Worth | Mayank Agarwal Net Worth | Abhishek Sharma Net Worth
